For the first time a woman has been appointed as chairperson of a district in Mazar-e-Sharif in Balkh province. 

Friba Ahmadi, was appointed chairwoman of the 5th district of Mazar and took up the reins this week.

The 36-year-old university graduate said she is confident of her abilities and addressing people’s problems will be a priority for her. 

Ahmadi graduated from the college of literature at Balkh University.

Addressing District 5 employees, Ahmadi said: "I can work and if anyone of you says that I am not able to work then when the district office is questioned every one of us will be questioned; so we must work well together.”

On her first day in the job, Ahmadi visited Faqirabad village, a remote area in District 5, and listened to the residents problems. 

“No help has been provided to the people through the district office,” said Fateh, a tribal elder in the village. 

After listening to the people’s problems, Ahmadi told TOLOnews that the roads in the areas are not paved, there is a shortage of water, and not enough bridges. 

She said she would try to resolve these key problems. 

“The priority of my work is that I have to figure out which are the most challenging areas in the 5th district, what problems do I have to deal with in the first step,” said Ahmadi.

Meanwhile, Balkh women’s affairs director Shahla Hadid welcomed the appointment of Ahmadi. 
 
“We have capable women who can work in high positions, and if the men support such talent there will be a day that brothers and sisters will stand shoulder to shoulder and will work in different positions in order to rescue the country from its miseries,” said Hadid.